Wall map storage cabinet



Aug. 26, 1958 J. T. CAWLEY WALL MAP STORAGE CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30, 1956 R M Wm M mm m a. r S m 7% m w Aug. 26, 1958 J. T. CAWLEY WALL MAP STORAGE CABINET 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 30, 1956 Fig.4

James T. Caw/ey 11v VEN TOR. Q0513.

B Y M Fig.6

Aug. 26, 1958 .1. T. CAWLEY WALL MAP STORAGE CABINET 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 30, 1956 James it. Cawley, Saskatchewan, signer of fifty percent to Morris .ahnmiatcher,

Regina, @aslratchewan, Canada Appiication November 39, M56, Serial No. 625,522

=Claims. (433. 66-65) This invention relates to cabinets and more particularly to a wall-map storage cabinet with particular reference to the manner by which maps may be withdrawn from the cabinet and displayed.

Wall maps often occupy considerable wall space for display purposes; they soon become dirty, yellow with age and very untidy. As an alternative, maps may be mounted on rollers or stands supported by rollers in order to move the map to the display area. A disadvantage in this system is that colored pins or similar marking devices may not be used to indicate features on the map. Such other expedients as making structural alterations in the building in order to insert movable panels within the walls of a room have been tried, but this is space consuming.

According to the invention there is a cabinet containing panels to which the maps may be attached, it being possible to withdraw these panels, swing them to any desired position, or even interchange them. Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved cabinet capable of so handling and storing panels on which maps may be applied.

A brief summary of the invention indicating its nature and substance follows: According the invention, a cabinet with an open front contains any desired number of metal framed fiberboard panels. Maps, flags, etc., are tacked, stapled or otherwise applied on these fiberboard panels, and colored tacks or an equivalent may be placed on the map to signify various operations taking place within a specified area or to have any other significance. The lower edge of each panel travels in a guide channel and rests on a wheeled bearing. At the upper corner of each panel there is a map panel carriage which is made of a pivot bearing, four wheels which run in an inverted U-section track from front to rear of the cabinet and other necessary structure. A further inverted U- section track is at right angles to the map panel track and extends across the top front of the cabinet. The transverse track carries any number of moving carriages which, for the purpose of identification are referred to as trad"- verse carriages. The transverse carriages are supported in the transverse track by four wheels and they are adapted to function essentially as extension of the map panel track which runs from the front to the back of the cabinet. The selected map panel carriage is so constructed and arranged as to be capable of being pulled into the transverse carriage. A locking device with a pull release is provided to lock the transverse carriage in place opposite the map panel track under consideration and from which the map panel is extracted. A further locking device with a release situated in the transverse carriage, locks the map carriage in the transverse carriage while the map panel is swiveled or its position in the cabinet changed. When fully withdrawn the front lower corner of the map panel is supported by a metal stool having legs with swivel wheels and an upright U-section channel into which the front lower edge of the map panel is clamped. In order to return the map after it has been (14 displayed, inspected, etc., the reverse operation takes place.

One embodiment of the invention will be described more specifically in the following detailed specification, reference being made to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing a part of a wall map storage cabinet which is constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken approximately on the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a top view of the map panel carriage;

Figure 6 is a side view of the map panel carriage of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a part of a latch which is used with and on the map panel carriage;

Figure 8 is a side view of a transverse carriage which constitutes a part of the invention;

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the transverse carriage taken on the line 99 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a bottom view of the transverse carriage; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view of a latch and taken approximately on the line l111 of Figure 8, this latch being adapted to engage the latch member shown in Figure 7.

In the accompanying drawings there is a cabinet 10 which is so constructed as to exemplify the principles of the invention. The cabinet is fabricated from angle iron and covered on two sides 12, the back 14 and the top 16 with thin sheet metal. Legs 18 provided with adjustable screw threaded feet 2% whose purpose is to adjust each end of the cabinet until it is level, as would be the case where these feet were resting on an uneven floor, are provided. Cabinet 10 is rigidly cross braced with rods 22 joining the legs at opposite corners.

An extension panel 24 at the top front of the cabinet protrudes across the open front of the cabinet and sup ports two lengths of inverted U-section track which are identified as transverse track 26 made of track sections 28 and 3t. Transverse track 26 has its track sections formed with inwardly extending flanges 32 on which the four pairs of wheels 33, 34, 35 and 36 respectively are mounted. These pairs of wheels constitute a part of the transverse carriage 38 which is movable along the track 26.

Along the inside top of the cabinet parallel lengths of inverted U-section track extends from front to rear of the cabinet there being one such track for each panel. As shown in Figure 4 there are tracks 4t), 4-1, 42, 43 and 44 at the front end of each individual map panel track there are pairs of small metal guides 50 hanging down below the level of and on either side of the top of the map panels, for example those shown in Figure 4 indicated at 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 respectively. The function of the metal guides 54) is to assist in holding the panels in a true vertical position at all times, and they are preferably but not necessarily, welded or otherwise fixed to the sides of the tracks 49, 41, 42, 43 and 44.

The floor 6t) of the cabinet has guide channels running from the front to the rear within which the lower edges of the wall map frames are slidably disposed. There is one lower guide ch .nel for each map panel, for example channels 61, '52, 63, $5 for the map panels 51, 52, 5'3, 54 and 55 (Figure 4). Each channel is formed by a pair of upstanding parallel walls on each side of the map panel and a lower bottom wall extending transversely thereacross and located above floor 60. A caster wheel 66 is mounted at the front end of the cabinet,

drawing the panel.

.in the cabinet.

there being one in each of the lower guide channels. It is preferred that each caster wheel be supplied with a soft covering, for examplea rubber tire, which projects slightly above' the lower surface of the guide channel and provides a bearing surface for the bottom of the map panel during withdrawal of and replacement of the map panel. 7

Each map panel is made with a fiberboard or the like center together with a metal, preferably aluminum or other light-Weight material, frame, the fiberboard being recessed in the frame so that the colored pins or like markers used in the map do not project beyond the maximum. width of the frame. tached to the front end of each panel for ease in with- Panel carriage 70 is attached at the rear corner of one of the panels and is used for supporting that panel There is an identical panel carriage for each panel, a single carriage being disposed in one of the upper tracks shown in Figure 4. Carriage 70 shown in Figures and 6 is typical of all others. it has four wheels 71, 72, 73 and 74 preferably made of nylon and having ball bearing races supporting the same in pairs on axles 75 and 76. The axles are carried by angulated plates 77, 78, 79 and 80 which, coacting with the main carriage plate 81 constitute the frame of the carriage. Horizontal plate 82 also constituting a part of the frame of the carriage hasa center pivot bolt 83 passing through a hole therein, the latter also passing through a hole in the companion plate 84 formed at the upper part of the longitudinal clamp 85. This clamp has'two jaws 86 and A handle as at 68 is at- 87 which embrace the upper frame member of the map a panel to which it is. connected, and bolts as at 83 extend through aligned openings in the jaws and the panel. Forwardly extending locking plate 89 having an opening 91 is attached to the frame of the map panel carriage and coacts with a latch 91 (Figure ll) to be described subsequently.

Upon withdrawal from the cabinet, the front lower corner of the map panel is supported on the stool 93, the latter having casters for feet and an upstanding channel 94 carried by the seat 95 of the stool. As the map panel is withdrawn from the cabinet, the map panel carriage slides in its upper rail making the withdrawal of the map panel smooth and easy. To further assist in attaining this end, the caster wheel 66 in the bottom channel functions to support the map panel from below. A resilient leaf spring is preferably located in the channel S t and the tension thereof is adjusted by the set screws 97 carried by one side of channel 94. This merely enhances the frictional attachment between the front frame member of the map panel and the clamp.

Transverse carriage 38 has its pairs of wheels 34, 36 and 33 mounted in the transverse track 26. Any number of such transverse carriages 33 may be used, although there will be only one used at a time for each an upstanding and depending front plate 192 and a pair of guides 103' and 104 which depend from the lower surface thereof. Upstanding plate 106 near the back of the carriage functions to support the pairs 35 and 36 of wheels whilethe upstanding plate 1%2 functions to support the pairs 35 and 36 of wheels. These wheels are preferably, but not necessarily, made of nylon and have ball bearing races making them practically friction-free. A fork shaped locking device 193 runs in guides 1'99 and 116 on the main plate 100 and passes through slots that are formed in upstanding and depending plate 192. The ends of this fork shaped locking device 1% are wide enough to engage on either side of any section of map panel track (Figure 4) in the top of the cabinet and are held in. extended position locking the transverse carriage 38 opposite such a section of map panel track by expansion of the. springs 112 and 114. Springs 112 and 114 react on ears 116 and 118 on which they seat, the ears being attached to the fork shaped locking device, and

panel carriage.

they also seat on the plate 162. The bias of the springs is such (compression) that they tend to push the fork shaped locking device in the extended position at all times. Accordingly, a locking device 108 is held in the ineffectual retracted position by means of a pivoted latch 1 mounted on main pivot 122 that is carried by plate 192. Latch keeper 124 on pivoted latch 1Z0 engages in a notch formed in one side of fork shaped locking device and is held in this position by the bias of spring 126 which is attached to the latch 12d and to a frame 128 that is attached to plate me. To release the fork shaped locking device pull chain 139 is pulled downwardly thereby permitting the force of the springs 112 and 114 to urge the fork shaped latching device outwardly and toward one of the channels 46*, 41, 42, or any of the others in this group. in order to return the fork shaped locking device to the ineffectual position (Figure 10) pull chain .140 which extends over pulley 141, is attached to an eye 142 on the front end of the locking device 108. Pulley 141 is carried by frame 128.

Latch 1 is carried by plate 102 and consists of a sliding belt 166 which is pressed by springs 147 and 148 outwardly of the case 149, this casing being bolted or otherwise secured to the plate 102. An eye 150 is on the sliding bolt 14-6 and has a chain 154 connected therein. The chain is used to pull the sliding bolt 146 downwardly so that it disengages from within the aperture 90 in the forwardly extending locking member 89 on the panel carriage 7d.

The method of operation is as follows: The transverse carriage 38 is placed opposite the map panel track containing the particular map panel desired to be examined and then it is locked in place by having the slotted ends 158 and 159 engaged with the ends of the overhead track under consideration. The map panel is withdrawn slightly and the supporting stool placed under the corner of the panel and locked in place. The map panel may then be fully withdrawn and pivoted in any direction'or interchanged with any other panel. To return the panel it is lined up with the overhead track, the latch 91 released so as to disengage the transverse carriage from the map Then the map panel carriage may be moved rearwardly into the cabinet together with the panel with which it is connected.

It will be seen from the foregoing that the invention provides a device whereby a very large area of maps may be stored in a relatively small space in a clean condition, and yet be readily available for examinationseveral maps at once if so desired. At the same time colored pins or similar articles may be used to indicate frnap panel. Carriage 38 consists of a frame 100 having any desired features on the map with no fear of being knocked out accidentally. The space saving feature of the map storage cabinet is best illustrated by reference to the preceding specification, the drawings and the appended claims. It is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the invention without departing from the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A wall map storage cabinet comprising the combination of a plurality of upper tracks, a plurality of lower tracks in alignmenttherewith, wall map panels disposed in pairs of said upper and lower tracks, each panel being adapted to be individually withdrawn from the tracks, each panel having a carriage attached at the upper end thereof and mounted on one of said upper tracks,.a,pivot in said carriage enabling the said panel to be rotated to selected in pairs of said upper and lower tracks, each panel being adapted to be individually withdrawn from the tracks, each panel having a carriage attached at the upper end thereof and mounted on one of said upper tracks, a pivot in said carriage enabling the said panel to be rotated to selected angular positions when withdrawn from the cabinet, a transverse track on the exterior of said cabinet, a transverse carriage movable on said transverse track, and means in the said carriage for interlocking and interconnecting said carriages so that said panel may be withdrawn from the cabinet and attached to said transverse carriage for movement on said transverse track, a movable support to support the lower front edge of said panel, and means for connecting said lower front edge of the panel to said movable support.

3. The cabinet of claim 1 wherein there are means on said transverse carriage for releasably locking said transverse carriage to the open front end of a selected upper track while the map panel carriage is slidable from the upper track and into said transverse carriage.

4. In a wall map storage cabinet which has a plurality of upper and lower tracks in which a plurality of panels are disposed, each panel having a carriage connecting it to one of said tracks, each carriage having a vertical pivot about which the panel is adjustable when the panel is withdrawn from said tracks, a transverse carriage, means constraining the movement of said transverse carriage to a plane which is at an angle to said tracks, and means for connecting said transverse carriage to said panel carriage so that the panel and carriage is movable from its tracks for demonstration and display, a latch connected with said transverse carriage and adapted to engage selected tracks, and movable means for supporting the lower edge of said panel while being withdrawn from its tracks and while being moved by said transverse carriage.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said movable means comprises a stool having casters at the lower end thereof, and a yielding clamp carried by said stool adapted to accept a corner part of said panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,053,667 Stcedman Feb. 18, 1913 1,443,382 Rapier Jan. 30, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 475,057 Germany Apr. 4, 1929 

